Spartanburg Methodist College is pleased to announce the establishment of an endowed scholarship to honor Champ Squires, a 2013 graduate of SMC.

The Champ Squires Endowed Scholarship was established by the estate of Betty Stewart Parnell in memory of her sister, Margie Stewart Treadway. Treadway was a graduate of the class of 1943 and a former member of the SMC Board of Trustees. Awards will be made annually, in honor of Squires, to students who demonstrate academic promise and determination and who are physically impaired.

The Champ Squires Endowed Scholarship name was selected by the executors of the Parnell estate because “Champ Squires exemplifies everything the scholarship is intended to reward – his abilities, stamina, and courage overcame his physical shortcomings,” an estate spokesperson shared. “SMC’s administration and student body treated Squires wonderfully as a student and Squires speaks and sings to glorify the Lord.”

“I met with Champ and his mother on their very first visit to SMC. I had no idea that day how much he would impact my life and heart. Champ stood out from day one, not because of his disability, but because of his ability to show love and compassion in all that he did,” shared Kelly Tillinghast, SMC Admissions Counselor. “In his short time here, I believe Champ represented everything that SMC is about. He was a friend to all, an outstanding student and a natural born leader. Champ was known to stretch himself thin, but only because he wanted to be as involved as possible.”

Squires currently attends Southern Wesleyan University and plans to go into full-time ministry in family counseling Squires is a member of Lewis Chapel UMC in Sumter. While at SMC, Squires was an active member in Chapel, an Ambassador for the Office of Admissions and was a member of the Troubadours, an auditioned choral ensemble, which performed challenging repertoire at local churches and various venues throughout South Carolina.

A committee appointed by SMC will select a qualified recipient or recipients each year and the award is renewable for a second year, upon achievement of academic success in the first year.

According to Don Tate, Director of Development for SMC, the Champ Squires Endowed Scholarship fund is open to receive additional contributions from other individuals or churches in the community to assist in the perpetuation of this award. “The benefits of such an award to qualifying students is life-changing – not only for the individual recipient but for those of us fortunate to be blessed by their gifts and talents,” Tate added. Contributions to this fund should be made payable to SMC for: Champ Squires Fund and mailed to: Office of Institutional Advancement, Spartanburg Methodist College, 1000 Powell Mill Rd, Spartanburg, SC 29301.